Artificial fireplace apparatus

May 16, 1961

2,984,032

F. S. CORNELL

ARTIFICIAL FIREPLACE APPARATUS

Filed Sept. 15, 1958

Sheets-Sheet 1

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Frederick S. Cornell

BY

CVOAU.'YO.. .

^ϋAttorney

F. S. CORNELL

ARTIFICIAL FIREPLACE APPARATUS

May 16, 1961

Filed Sept. 15, 1958

2,984,032

Sheets-Sheet 2

Tin. 3.

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INVENTOR.

Frederick S. Cornell ^Attorney

United States Patent Office

2,984,032

Patented May 16, .1961

2,984,032

ARTIFICIAL FIREPLACE APPARATUS

Frederick Stuart Cornell, 8 N. Brae Court, Tenafly, N.J.

Filed Sept. 15,1958, Ser. No. 760,976

Claims. (CI. 40—106.52)

This invention relates to improvements in artificial fireplace apparatus, and particularly to an improved apparatus for simulating the appearance of burning fuel in an artificial fireplace.

The esthetic value of a brisk fire burning in an open fireplace are well recognized, and the common occurrence of situations which preclude having a real fireplace in living quarters have given rise to a number of devices for simulating the appearance of open flames in an artificial fireplace. In general, such devices either fail to give a truly realistic appearance of actual flames, or are quite complex and consequently too expensive to be practical for many applications.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a simple, inexpensive apparatus that will produce a highly realistic appearance of burning fuel when in operation in a fireplace.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the foregoing and other related objects and advantages are attained in an apparatus wherein the appearance of leaping, flickering flames, together with background glow, are developed by means including a plurality of light-deflecting blades of irregular configuration, mounted to rotate about a horizontal axis in proximity to an artificial light source, such as an electric light bulb. These reflecting elements preferably are substantially entirely concealed behind opaque portions of fuel simulating means, such as burning sticks, with viewing openings being provided so that the complete assembly provides a highly realistic fire effect that has all the visual appeal of a real open fire.

A more complete understanding of the invention, and further objects and features thereof, can be had by reference to the following description of an illustrative embodiment of the invention, when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, Wherein—

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a fireplace apparatus embodying the present invention,

Figure 2 is a section view of the apparatus of Figure 1, taken on the line 2—2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the reflector blade assembly in the apparatus of Figure 1, and

Figures 4 and 5 are fragmentary section views, on an enlarged scale, of the assembly of Figure 3, taken on the lines 4—4 and 5—5, respectively, of Figure 3.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawing, an artificial fireplace apparatus embodying the present invention is illustrated as comprising fuel simulating means having the appearance of sticks 10 arranged in a pile to maintain an open fire. In the usual case, a relatively large stick or log 10α will be placed at the bottom portion of the pile,' and this base log 10α advantageously is used to conceal the majority of the parts in the assembly as described hereinafter.

It will be understood, of course, that the fuel elements 10 may comprise actual sticks and logs, or may be made of other suitable materials such as plastic or the like, molded in the shape of sticks. In general, only one side of the fuel pile need be portrayed to give a realistic appearance. In such case, the fuel simulating elements 10 may be attached in a suitable manner, as with nails or the like, to each other and to vertical side members 5 12 that slope rearwardly to give the pile proper shape.

The ends of the fuel elements 10 extend sufficiently beyond the side supports 12 to conceal these supports when the assembly is viewed from the front.

The fuel elements are arranged to leave one or more 10 viewing openings 14 therebetween through which to project the flame simulating light effects described hereinafter. Preferably, the fuel elements near the opening 14 are blackened and otherwise treated to give the appearance of charring, thereby to contribute further to 15 the realism of the assembly.

Referring particularly to Figures 2 and 3, a light source such as an electric light bulb 16 is concealed from direct view by the fuel element 10α, being located behind the log 10α directly beneath the lowermost viewing opening 20 14. To provide a flame effect extending across the entire width of the fuel bed, it is preferable to use an elongated bulb rather than the short, stubby type that will concentrate the bulk of the light near the center of the apparatus.

The bulb 16 is screwed into a socket 18 which is attached by a bracket member 20 to the base portion 22 of a U-shaped frame 24. The elongated base portion 22 extends along and may be attached to the flattened rear surface of the lowermost log 10α, with the legs 20 26, 28 of the frame 24 extending rearwardly from the base 22. The frame may be fastened to the log 10α in any convenient manner, as with screws 30.

The frame legs 26, 28 provide support means for a horizontal shaft 32 and a drive motor 34. One end of 3S the shaft 32 is journaled in a suitable bearing 36 in one support leg 26. The motor 34 is mounted on the other support leg 28 and has its shaft 38 extending inwardly toward the other leg 26 through a suitable hole in the leg 28. For simplicity of assembly and of making any 40 necessary repairs or replacements, the motor shaft 38 is coupled to the driven shaft 32 by a resilient sleeve 40 of rubber or the like, making it an easy matter to disconnect the shaft when desired without the use of any tools.

Projecting radially from the shaft 32 are a plurality 42 of intersecting blades 42. The blades 42 are made of metal foil or other similar light-weight, highly reflective material, and are distorted or wrinkled to provide irregularly oriented reflecting surfaces that will reflect light from the bulb 16 in a random fashion as the blades are ³³ rotated. It is also found that a more realistic effect is obtained if one or more of the blades 42 is slit radially to form separate blades elements 42α, with adjacent ones of the blade elements 42α being angularly displaced from each other. The slits between the blade elements ³³ may also take the form of irregularly cut-out portions, so that individual ones of the blade elements have a pointed end portion 42Z&gt;. While any desired number of blades can be used in excess of two·, it has been found that a four-blade construction gives highly satisfactory ³⁰ results in the flame effects produced and is easy to fabricate and assemble.

For example, individual sheets of reflective material can be precut to a size appropriate for making a pair of blades, and slit or die-cut to separate individual blade ³³ elements as desired. Considering the case of metal foil blade material, these sheets then can be crushed into a loose wad to achieve the surface distortion desired for irregular reflecting surfaces. The sheets then can be opened out and the shaft 32 placed in a fold 44 along the ⁷³ longitudinal centerline of one sheet, being held in place by staples 46 and/or a suitable cement, such as “liquid solder.” A second sheet then can be attached along its ♦

2,984,032 centerline to the first sheet, as with staples, and the blades and blade elements bent to the desired positions, spaced about ninety degrees apart around the shaft 32.

The frame 24 is so located adjacent the lowermost viewing opening 14 as to conceal the frame legs 26, 28, the motor 34 and the portions of the blades 42 which are in the lower half of their path of rotational travel, leaving exposed in the viewing opening those portions of the blades 42 which are in the upper half of their path of rotational travel.

When the foregoing assembly is placed in operation in an open fireplace by connecting the light bulb and the motor to a suitable current source, the entire area within the pile of sticks and logs is given a background glow such as customarily originates from the bed of coals at the bottom of an open fire. Superimposed on this background glow, as viewed through the opening between the sticks and logs, the rotating blades and blade elements produce a highly realistic effect of leaping and flickering flame. As each individual blade or blade element comes forwardly through the lowermost half of its rotational path, it reflects the light from the bulb forwardly and upwardly as the rotational position approaches the horizontal. After the blade passes the horizontal position, the opposite surface of the blade begins to reflect light from the bulb forwardly and downwardly. As it approaches a vertical position, individual ones of the irregularly oriented reflecting surfaces at scattered points along the blade will sequentially reflect light directly toward an observer facing the viewing opening, thereby creating a realistic illusion of flame elements moving upwardly. Thus, in general, two angularly adjacent blade surfaces will be functioning simultaneously; the upcoming blade before it reaches the horizontal position providing indirectly view flickering effects as from flames that cannot be seen directly, and the immediately proceeding blade surface providing directly viewed, leaping flame effects.

The advantage of having some of the blades separated into angularly displaced individual blade elements is that these individual elements give more irregularity to the reflected light pattern, whereas a continuous blade tends to give somewhat more simultaneous flame effects along the full length of the blade in a fashion approaching a burst of light. This, of course, is dependent to some extent on the amount of distortion that has been given to the blade surface. A blade of very thin material that can be distorted readily to a significant degree may be found to give all the irregularity of light reflection desired, whereas with a stiffer material the use of individual blade elements may be desirable.

It is also found that the realism of the flame effect can be additionally enhanced when the brightest portions as seen through the lowermost opening in the pile of sticks is softened and diffused by a translucent or foraminous member 48, such as a sheet of gauze of fiberglass or the like, placed across the viewing opening on the rearward side of the fuel elements 10.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the present invention provides a very simple and inexpensive fire and flame simulating device that produces all of the visual elements of a fire in an open fireplace.